Sin City: A Dame to Kill For (2014) is a superhero film adapted from Dark Horse Comics, directed by Frank Miller, Robert Rodriguez and starring Mickey Rourke and Eva Green. The film is part of the Dark Horse and was released by Dimension Films. Audience rating: 6.5/10.
What is Sin City: A Dame to Kill For (2014) about?
Some of Basin City's most dangerous criminals — seduced by femme fatale Ava Lord — fight to survive the brutal, neon-noir streets in a prequel and sequel to the original Sin City.
Released in 2014, Sin City: A Dame to Kill For was directed by Frank Miller, Robert Rodriguez and produced under the Dimension Films banner. The film occupies a significant place within the Dark Horse — contributing to the ongoing narrative and mythology of that cinematic universe.
The film features lead performances from Mickey Rourke, Eva Green, Joseph Gordon-Levitt, among others, anchoring a story that adapts characters first brought to life in Dark Horse Comics. Its source material gives the film a foundation rooted in decades of published storytelling, which Rodriguez and the creative team interpret through a cinematic lens.
Its 6.5 rating reflects a film that divided audiences — appreciated for its ambition and spectacle by some, criticized for pacing and execution by others. Its place in the genre remains a frequent discussion point.
What happens in Sin City: A Dame to Kill For (2014)? — Full Plot
Sin City: A Dame to Kill For is, like its 2005 predecessor, an anthology film. Multiple Frank Miller stories from his Sin City comics universe unfold concurrently across the dystopian Basin City. The film features both new stories and pre-existing characters from the first film.
The central story: A Dame to Kill For. Dwight McCarthy (Josh Brolin, replacing Clive Owen from the original) is contacted by his former lover Ava Lord (Eva Green). She claims her husband is abusive and she needs Dwight to extract her. Dwight, fooled by Ava's manipulation, kills her husband during the rescue.
Ava betrays Dwight immediately after her husband's death — using the murder as leverage in her own larger scheme to inherit the husband's wealth. Dwight, having been physically transformed by Ava's manipulation and various injuries during the conflict, becomes the cold-blooded version of himself from the original film.
The second story: The Long Bad Night. Johnny (Joseph Gordon-Levitt) is a young card player who beats Senator Roark (Powers Boothe) at a high-stakes poker game. Roark — the most-corrupt politician in Basin City — has Johnny's hand crushed. Johnny seeks revenge by entering another high-stakes Roark poker game and winning again. Roark has Johnny killed in retaliation.
The third story: Nancy's Last Dance. Nancy (Jessica Alba, reprising her role from the original) is now an alcoholic stripper haunted by the death of John Hartigan (Bruce Willis, in a ghost appearance). Nancy targets Senator Roark for revenge. She shoots him with a rifle from a hotel rooftop.
The fourth story: Just Another Saturday Night. Marv (Mickey Rourke) is back, brutalizing more criminals in his familiar style.
Sin City: A Dame to Kill For grossed $39 million globally on a $65 million budget — a major commercial failure. Critics widely panned the film for its repetitive use of the original's style. Frank Miller and Robert Rodriguez have not produced another Sin City film. The franchise is now considered dormant.
Who stars in Sin City: A Dame to Kill For (2014)?
Find Sin City: A Dame to Kill For (2014) on Amazon
Watch Sin City: A Dame to Kill For on Prime Video, browse the original Dark Horse Comics source material, and discover Blu-rays, soundtracks, and related merchandise on Amazon.
As an Amazon Associate, I earn from qualifying purchases. Link clicks do not affect editorial coverage — see our disclaimer.
What are some facts about Sin City: A Dame to Kill For (2014)?
Sin City: A Dame to Kill For released in 2014, placing it within the 2010s era of comic book cinema — a decade that saw superhero films become the dominant force at the global box office.
Directed by Frank Miller, Robert Rodriguez, the film was produced by Dimension Films and adapts source material from Dark Horse Comics.
The principal cast features Mickey Rourke and Eva Green, with key supporting roles played by Joseph Gordon-Levitt, Josh Brolin, Jessica Alba.
The film belongs to Dark Horse — a distinct corner of comic book cinema.
Sin City: A Dame to Kill For carries an audience rating of 6.5 — a middling reception but one that hasn't prevented its cultural footprint.
The Dark Horse Comics source material for Sin City: A Dame to Kill For has been in continuous publication for decades, giving filmmakers a rich well of storylines, character arcs, and iconography to draw upon.
Modern superhero films like this one use a mix of practical effects and digital VFX, with entire sequences often shot against volume walls or LED stages pioneered by shows like The Mandalorian.
Sin City: A Dame to Kill For is catalogued on Movies on Comics among our collection of 162 comic book films spanning 48 years of cinema — from Richard Donner's 1978 Superman to the present day.
